Saturday’s Horse Plays – Aqueduct and Santa Anita

Saturday is one of those days racebook horseplayers cannot get enough of. There is stakes action from coast to coast, and several key Kentucky Derby preps are on the menu.

The $750,000 Wood Memorial (G1) drew a field of eight including I Want Revenge, the impressive winner of the Gotham Stakes (G3) in his first start on dirt.

On the left coast, a field of ten will go nine furlongs over the Pro Ride surface in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1), which will be televised on NBC this afternoon.

It looks like a two horse duel between The Pamplemousse and Pioneerof the Nile, who both come into the race riding three race win streaks.

We could see a Derby hopeful exit the $500,000 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne, where a field of eleven goes to the post.

Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner Musket Man and hard luck Giant Oak figure to take action at the windows.

We will attempt to pad our bankroll by going coast to coast in a matter of a half hour with the Wood and Santa Anita Derby:

Aqueduct Race 9 Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) Post time 5:19 ET

#5 Imperial Council 2/1

#2 I Want Revenge 4/5

#7 Lime Rickey 20/1

#1 Atomic Rain / #1a West Side Bernie 6/1

There were 8 ½ lengths separating #5 Imperial Council and #2 I Want Revenge last out in the Gotham Stakes, and it might be a stretch thinking our top pick can reverse the outcome today, but I am not crazy about backing the chalk at a likely price that will be around 3/5. Our top pick figures to move forward off his last start where he broke eighth in the nine-horse field and made a good late rally over an inner surface that was kind to horses on or close to the lead. There looks like there is going to be an honest pace in here and I sure liked the way the Shug trainee closed against the slight bias.

#2 I Want Revenge moved to the top or close to the top of most handicapper’s Derby list with his Gotham win where he earned a career top 113 Beyer. It was his first start on dirt after racing on the fake stuff in his first seven starts. Trainer Jeff Mullins has his sights on the first Saturday of May and this colt has enough graded earnings he does not have to win here. He just figures to regress a few notches off his last start, which gives our top pick a fighting chance of pulling off the slight upset.

#7 Lime Rickey is an interesting longshot as he makes his dirt debut here. He is coming off three straight runner up finishes in stakes company on the turf at Gulfstream Park, last out as the beaten chalk in the G3 Palm Beach. He figures to get overlooked on the tote here and worth tossing in the mix here at a generous price.

Wagering

WIN: #5 to win at 2/1 or better.

EX: 2,5 / 1,2,5,7

TRI: 2,5 / 1,2,5,7 / 1,2,3,5,7

Santa Anita Park Race 6 Santa Anita Derby (G1) Post time 2:36 PT

#10 The Pamplemousse 9/5

#5 Mr. Hot Stuff 8/1

#4 Pioneerof the Nile 2/1

#1 Chocolate Candy 6/1

#10 The Pamplemousse earned the top last out speed fig in a good looking victory in the G3 Sham last out, beating three runners he faces again here today. The colt ahs won both of his two stakes tries by going gate to wire but with the outside draw and the presence of #2 Z Day, he might take a tracking role today. The colt does not have the look of a need to lead type, and Solis has enough time to get a good position going into the first turn here. The son of Kafwain is likely to go off as the favorite but looks like the one to beat in this spot.

#5 Mr. Hot Stuff might give us a shot of landing a decent exacta payoff as #4 Pioneerof the Nile is going to be heavily bet and #1 Chocolate Candy may take some play but sure did not beat much in his G3 El Camino Real win at Golden Gate in his last start. The colt is a full brother to Colonel John ($1.5 million) and a half to Caroline’s Gold (4 for 13, $156K). The colt made a mild late run to finish third in the Sham, which was his first start against winners. He looks capable of moving forward off that effort and certainly has enough pedigree to handle nine furlongs on the fake stuff.

#4 Pioneerof the Nile is riding a three race win streak, his last pair over the main track here. The Baffert trainee should get a solid pace to stalk and he looks primed for a good effort in his third start of his current form cycle.

Wagering

WIN: #10 to win at 9/5 or better.

EX: 5,10 / 1,4,5,10

TRI: 5,10 / 1,4,5,10 / 1,2,4,5,10

Good luck padding your bankroll today!